Punica granatum
Can you opine being the first person to trip upon a pomegranate growing in the wilderness ? What must they have thought , when they establish those unpaired globes hanging from the branches just overhead ?
When I think about all of the history that has come before us , especially in the botanic world , my imagination runs furious !
I ca n’t help but think of those who come before us , spotting a rummy new plant , and bringing it home to their family or colleague to ponder over it .
Photo by Nikki Cervone.
possibly it would be scrumptious . Or maybe it would demonstrate deadly .
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I know I would ’ve been eager to figure out what lay inside of it ! How rosy that our forebears sampled this once - raging fruit , with its one - of - a - kind bod , and its inner chambers bursting with nutritious , juicy gems .
That breakthrough has led to chiliad of years of refinement , with the pomegranate tree make the round from one continent to another as grow numbers of nurseryman , orchardists , and hungry people discovered its beauty and its unequaled nip .
In this guide , we ’ll cover how to grow and care for your own pomegranate tree . Here ’s what ’s ahead :
What You’ll Learn
Before you found those seeded player or purchase plant , it ’s helpful to take some time to hear about where pomegranate come from and what stipulation are ideal for their health , maturation , and productiveness .
What Is Pomegranate?
In 1725 , the species was namedPunica granatumby Carl Linnaeus , the Swedish “ father of taxonomy , ” which translates to “ many - sow orchard apple tree ” or “ grainy Malus pumila . ”
The listing of common names for the fruit admit seeded apple , the orchard apple tree of Grenada , and the French pomme - grenade , which is where the modern name may be derived from in English .
pomegranate may be either deciduous or evergreen , count on regional temperatures . While this species has a course shrublike habit , it ’s commonly pruned into a tree mannequin .
The leaves are oblong and gig - shaped , placid , and shiny . They ’re typically two to three inches long .
The foliage is intersperse with spines , or thorns , and as the tree diagram mature , some of them can be most two inches farseeing and quite acuate .
plant may be fruiting or cosmetic , with attractive ruby-red , pink , or orange flowers .
The fruit , though named after apples , are classified as berries and unrelated to pomes .
Instead , these plants go to the Vinca minor order of magnitude , along with many other pop garden plants includingfuchsia , crepe Vinca minor , bottlebrush , even primrose , and eucalyptus .
Each seed inside the tough exterior , orpericarp , is surrounded by firm flesh . These are known asarils .
The seedscanbe used to propagate new flora , but will not typically grow lawful to the parent industrial plant , so other methods are usually preferred .
If you ’re interested in give this method a try , we overcompensate it in a disjoined pathfinder .
substantially grown for yield production in dry and hot region with summer daytime temperature in the 70 to 90 ° farad range , pomegranates are suitable for growing inUSDA Hardiness Zones7 to 11 .
They are n’t generally cold hardy , though you will find out a few cultivar that check the broadsheet , and may be damaged or kill if they ’re divulge to frost and temperatures below about 20 ° fluorine .
Cultivation and History
The uncivilized pomegranate arise in the Middle East , and is native to Persia , or innovative - day Iran . The history of this yield is long and fascinating .
Let ’s hit a few of the highlights .
Evidence of pomegranate polish survive premise record account , in Bronze - Age digging from as long ago as 3,000 BCE find out in Iran and the Himalayan Mountain part .
Artwork has endure from legion ancient civilization depicting the yield as an important part of the cuisine and culture of ancient Persia , Rome , Greece , Egypt , and China . In many property , such as India , it was considered the food of royalty , or at the very least , a luxury particular .
The pharaohs of Egypt believed the pomegranate tree was so authoritative that they commission illustrations of the fruit to attend as evidence of their royal status , such as in hieroglyphic paintings on the interior of Pyramid and fine clayware , which they conceive would go with them into the afterlife .
Images of the fruit were also coin on coins , featured on spiritual garb , and exhibited in temple paintings and carvings by artists across several polish , include the Jewish multitude who lived in Jerusalem in biblical time .
Ancient Greeks and Romans also regarded the evergreen leaves as a symbolisation of long suit and perpetual life history , and as is plebeian of fruit turn back many cum , as a symbol of birthrate .
In Greek myth , when Persephone is abduct by Hades , the fruit boast as a symbolic representation oflife and re-formation , as well as marriage . You ’ll see this symbolic trend reiterate in other cultures , such as that of the Bedouins .
Persian myth grants the pomegranate powers that are a bit more wizardly in nature , such as when Isfandiyar is allow the gift of invisibleness after eating a yield .
Some even believe it to be the fruit of the tree of life in the book of Genesis in the Bible . And the pomegranate tree is one of the fruit that grows in the celestial gardens of the Koran .
Dig a little deeper , and you ’ll see these stories go on and on , through time and space , produce a rich tapis .
Also recognise symbolically for its dichotomy , this is a qualityhighlighted by its use in traditional medicineas an acerbic and laxative , expectorant and antiemetic , and restorative and hypnogogic , to name a few applications .
Medieval doctors who prescribe cure based on the four humors regard it as affectionate and moist , undecomposed for alleviating coughing , or for use as an aphrodisiac .
Brought to Sicily and southern Spain with Islamic conquerors , its popularity spread .
Pomegranates were introduced to the United States by way of Spanish conquistadors and traders in the mid-1700s , and over time , came to be cultivated in regions with a red-hot , desiccate climate throughout North , Central , and South America , such as parts of modern - twenty-four hour period California and Arizona .
In the United States , they ’ve waxed and waned in popularity over the last two century , however , with the findings ofseveral studiesconducted within the preceding 20 year showing the immense nutritionary economic value of the seeds and succus , Punica granatum have become more of a mainstream food for thought .
They ’re high in fiber and folic acid , as well as vitamins C and K.
With vibrantly color skin and blossoms used historically in dye - making and to create pigments for ancient cosmetic , the culinary economic consumption of the arils and dried seed continue to this daytime in a variety of spices , juice , syrups , and liqueurs .
Grenadine is flavored with pomegranate tree , and the yield can also be used to make molasses .
The leaves and flowers are also sometimes used to make tea , either dry or novel .
Pomegranate Propagation
Like the legal age of yield trees , it ’s not upright to grow pomegranates from seed if the desired answer is a clone of the parent plant .
Other methods , such as taking press clipping or gentle wind layer from a mature plant , will produce true clones of the parent . This mean both the fruit and the ontogeny wont of the tree or shrub will be identical to the plant you care to copy .
There are several possible method acting to employ , and you could line up comprehensive information about each of the best alternative for home growers inour guide to propagating pomegranates .
The loose room to get start with growing your own pomegranates is to purchase a plant from your local garden gist or online . We ’ll bring home the bacon some suggestions below .
These are available as potted saplings , or desolate ancestor plants .
To transplantation , stab a hole that ’s twice as wide and the same profundity as the root chunk .
If you have purchased a bare rootage plant , soak the roots in a bucket of water supply for about half an hr prior to found .
Remove the sapling from the container , pester out the stem with your fingers , and position it into the center of the kettle of fish . Backfill with grunge , tamping down gently to take away melody pocket , and water in well .
Apply a layer of mulch around the new graft , keeping it one to two inch away from the root word .
Keep the grunge equally moist while the plant is becoming established .
How to Grow Pomegranate Trees
The pip you opt for your tree should offer around eight minute offull sunper day .
The soil at the internet site should be loamy , or a mixture of loam and sand , with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0 . You may wish toconduct a soil testso you’re able to plan to ameliorate based on any insufficiency .
Good drainage is also a must – pomegranates are known for grow best in more arid regions , and soggy dirt is a sure room to invite harmful fungous pathogens , and damage the wellness of your plant .
For the first year after transplant , contrive to water one to two time weekly depending on the amount of rainfall you receive .
If you ’re in an expanse where rainfall through all or most of the class is scarce , you should be after to provide about one in of water per calendar week . You canuse a rain gaugeto quantity rain . fledged plants are drought broad .
If seasonal low temperatures in your field drop below about 20 ° F , you ’ll need to have a plan for winterizing , or plant a variety that can be maturate in a container so it can be motivate to a warmer , more sheltered area throughout the colder months .
It ’s also helpful to cognise that these flora aremonoecious , meaning they are ego - pollinating . They produce both manly and male - female heyday , address “ perfect ” blossoms .
The perfect blossoms are the unity that will in the end produce yield .
It ’s not necessary to implant more than one tree , however , itcanstill be helpful to plant a small pigeonholing of two to three for the dear pollination and yields .
Remember that these plants can have a spread head of more than 15 base , so be indisputable to set aside adequate spatial arrangement between them .
Pomegranates can also be develop more close together as a hedgerow , with appropriate pruning to allow for right airflow .
We ’ll cut through some of the most pop varieties later on . No matter which variety you take , you ’ll most in all likelihood want to keep it shapely and neat , and you ’ll do that by cut back it periodically .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
As previously mention , pomegranate course grow in a shrub form , and can reach 15 to 20 animal foot in peak , with nearly the same spread .
It ’s best to wait until after the first twelvemonth of the plant ’s life to prune , to permit sentence for it to become established .
If you choose to shape the works into a tree bod , you may choose three to five of the strongest vertical subdivision in the second year , and trim the repose out along with the smaller branch that are below the desired sizing and shape of the canopy .
We cover this in more detail in our guide to pruning pomegranates . ( coming soon ! )
Suckers should be pruned off each year , as they will debilitate vigour from the plant with no benefit . These can also be propagated to begin new plants , if you wish well .
Plan to rationalise in late winter . fighting ontogenesis takes station in early to mid - spring , and bloom occurs from spring through fall in most areas .
Throughout the blooming time of year , pomegranate trees will create new blossoms in at least three cycles . The blush are formed on the ends of the branch .
These blossoms can continue to arrange fruit throughout the season , but those that develop later will typically be smaller in size , and may not mature amply prior to the end of decline , depending on your mood .
You ’ll need to forefend pruning after the plant begins forming bud , as cutting these away will result in shrink yield product .
In late winter , remove any damaged part that have not survived the insensate months , making way for fresh growth in the spring , as well as any crossing , downward - growing , or diseased outgrowth .
This will also help to keep the size of it and shape of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or shrub realizable throughout the remainder of the year .
keep the plant life trimmed for human body aid in ease of harvesting as well – otherwise , you ’ll be wading into a thorn bush to assemble fruit . It also open up up quad in the canopy so luminance and air can penetrate , keeping the plant healthier and allow fruits to mature well .
It ’s important to mark that if you ’re allow the shrub to originate in its natural soma , it may harbor surplus humidity , and that can reduce blooming and lead to blossom drop .
Even without pruning for form , you ’ll still want to keep the industrial plant capable by pruning to allow for adequate air flow .
You may see other sources of information recommending summertime pruning . While itispossible to dress in the summer , that ’s also the clock time of year when your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or shrub will be heavy with put fruit .
This is not the ideal prison term to cut it back unless you have an of import grounds , such as serious damage from disease or infestation .
To maintain works shape , plan to cut back no more than six to eight inches from the ramification prior to the onslaught of budding , and no more than a third of the branches at a time .
Bear in mind that , with complete pollination , each blossom may result in a yield that can weigh between one - quarter and three - quarters of a Syrian pound , depend on the variety .
Pomegranate trees are not known for being free weight - bearing , and too many fruit per branch can leave to trouble , in particular in fragile untried tree diagram .
If you notice that the branches of the tree diagram are so heavy that they ’re droop , filch off some of the remaining bloom , or even a few immature fruit , to repress the strain before the branch cracks .
Fruit is also prone to cracking when rain and pee availability fluctuate . There are other reasons why the fruit might split , andyou can learn more about them in our guide .
Any yield that has not ripened completely before the destruction of the rise time of year should be trim from the tree to prevent pests or disease from overwintering there , or being draw to the tree .
Immature fruit can be composted as long as no signs of disease or pest damage are present , but you ’ll desire to cut them open to inspect the Department of the Interior before introducing them to your compost pile .
If you opt not to compost them or you see signs of damage , such as black or chocolate-brown spots , mold , mould , or visible pest , you could throw away them in a well - seal trash purse instead .
Fertilizer should be applied slenderly and only if you ’ve noticed star sign of nutrient deficiency . Learn more about fertilize pomegranate in our usher .
Cultivars to Select
There is a long list of C of named pomegranate cultivar in world .
While some are better used for dye , or dry and terra firma to grow pulverized spices used in bag with rich flavor , such as those popular in Middle Eastern , Pakistani , and Indian cuisine , others are better known for their typical flavors or fruit color and shape , such as purple or yellow varieties .
Purple Heart
This cultivar is also know as ‘ Sharp Velvet . ’ Fruits are declamatory and red , with sweet aril and humble acidity . They ’re typically quick for harvest in October .
‘ Purple mettle ’
‘ Purple Heart ’ can develop up to 30 feet tall in idealistic weather . It ’s well suitable for use as a privacy hedge , or it may be train to grow as an individual tree .
plant are available in # 1 containersfrom Nature Hills Nursery .
Red Silk
The ‘ Red Silk ’ variety is known for having a seed vessel that is more pink than red , and a medium to large fruit size of it .
The aril offer a portmanteau word of sweetness and tartness , with a flavor that is evocative of red Berry . Fruits are typically ready for harvest in September .
‘ Red Silk ’
This dwarf cultivar has a shorter , smaller growth habit , get through 18 feet at maturity . This make it suitable for growing in smaller infinite , or in containers with pruning .
‘ Red Silk ’ plant are available in # 1 containersfrom Nature Hills Nursery .
Wonderful
‘ rattling ’ is the variety most ordinarily sold in grocery stores . It arrive at a mature pinnacle of 15 to 20 feet with a similar banquet and is a prolific producer .
‘ Wonderful ’
The large , deep red fruits unwrap aril with a hard texture and a sweet - sporting lady tang and are ready to reap in September to October .
you could determine ‘ Wonderful ’ trees in one - gal potsavailable from Yarden .
Want More selection ?
If you ’re looking for a longsighted lean of alternative to view for your home or garden , take a smell at our roundup of fruiting miscellanea to grow at nursing home .
Managing Pests and Disease
Pomegranates are less prostrate to pests and disease than many type of yield trees , provided they are planted in a worthy climate and give right care .
The list of undesirable guest that you might see is short , and includes the likes of squirrels , aphids , leaf - leg it bug , and leafroller caterpillars .
squirrel can be a real challenge to deal with , but most of the time , you’re able to at least deoxidise the amount of yield lose to them using methods such as wrap educate yield with barrier handbag , and set up decoys of predatory creature to fright them off .
worm plague can also be an infliction in the case of minor infestations , though they may have major craw losses when infestation are stern .
Diseases that affect pomegranates can be difficult to pull off , such as cercospora fungus and heart rot .
Any time your plants show signs of illness or pest damage , such as foliage and bud drop , discolouration , or chew fruit or leave-taking , it ’s good to take quick activity to valuate the situation and develop a design to preclude further wrong .
We share more particular abouthow to identify , forbid , and finagle pestilence and disease issues in our comprehensive guide .
Harvesting Pomegranate Fruit
Aside from pruning , the toughest part of caring for a pomegranate tree or bush is perhaps waiting for the harvesting .
Depending upon the variety , the fruit can take anywhere from five to seven months to mature and mature . Trees typically produce a harvestable crop starting two to five years after planting .
It can also be somewhat challenging to tell if the fruits are ripe , as they may not visibly change much throughout the last mates month of increment – unless you recognise what to look for .
Generally talk , fruit that are set in March or April will be quick for harvest home between August and October . Be sure to chequer the specific for your take cultivar and grow part .
You ’ll notice three primary changes when the fruits are ripe for harvest : the condition of the seed vessel , which will become more angular ; the smoother texture and deep color of the pelt ; and the heavy weight of the fruit .
Pull on a span of heavy gloves and plan to harvest with great care to avoid being poked by discriminating thorn . Do n’t attract fruits off of the offset , as this method of harvest can make impairment .
Instead , practice a set of tart garden shears and lop the stems close to the fruit . Carefully place the fruit into your hod or another collection container of your choice to avoid bruising or scuffing .
While motley grow commercially are well able-bodied to withstand a few pokes or bumps , other cultivars may prove to be more cranky – even a long stem jabbing into its neighbor in the basket may cause small-scale legal injury .
For more detailed data , read our guidebook to harvesting pomegranate .
If you care to use the flowers for tea making , plan to collect manful blossoms that will not grow yield , pick them from the arm just after they spread out .
you may tell the difference between the two because the male blossoms are slenderly little and shaped like a bell , whereas the consummate heyday which produce fruit after pollenation have a more bulbous form at the base , which contains the ovary .
Leaves can be harvested at any time while they are still dark-green and overbold on the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
Storing and Preserving
While they ’re long - keepers , pomegranates necessitate to be stored under proper conditions for good upshot . They ’ll mostly stay fresh for one to two weeks when kept at room temperature , out of lineal sun .
Refrigeration is best for farseeing storage , at a temperature between 32 and 40 ° F .
If they ’re proceed cool and wry , you could expect whole fruit to stay fresh for about two to three months . Wash them just before using .
you may also disregard them open and remove the arils for store so they ’re quick to eat when you want them . you’re able to store them fresh in the icebox for about five days .
Keep in mind that the juice can stain cutis , clothes , and oeuvre aerofoil , so you may want to use stainless brand utensils and bowls , and fatigue gloves if you have a lot of fruits to litigate .
To freeze out , pass around fresh arils out onto a biscuit shroud covered in waxed paper and bulge out them into the deep freezer for about one to two hours . Transfer them to a deep-freeze bag and stop dead them for up to a year .
aril can be process to make succus , jam , jelly , or grenadine syrup , all of which can be used immediately or pressure can for long - full term storage . brisk juice can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week .
Blossoms and leaves can be sun - dried ordehydratedand stored in an air - tight container , or used fresh to make teatime .
Fresh blossoms and leaves that will not be dried or processed in some other way for storage should be used like a shot .
We advocate an Excalibur dehydrator to continue the ledge life of your desiccated food for thought , like this four - tray model , uncommitted via Amazon .
Excalibur Four - Tray Dehydrator
If you ’re in the market for a well dehydrator , tick out this guide to the best models fromour sister internet site , Foodal .
A dried spice – known asanardanain Hindi , Punjabi , and Urdu , which is derived from the Persiananar , and known by many other names as well – is give rise by dry up or sun - dry arils and crushing them into powder either by hand or with a food for thought processor .
desiccated yield that ’s been processed into powder can be stored for several year in an airtight container . you could localise it in the deep freezer , or store in a cool , sinister , juiceless location such as a pantry .
Lumps are a sign that the pulverization has absorbed moisture , which can lead to spoilage .
Recipes and Cooking Ideas
First and foremost , you may need to know how to organize a pomegranate tree for use in formula or to eat the cum alone . you may find information on preparing pomegranateson our sister site , Foodal .
If you ’re a devotee of uniquely flavor beverages with a tart boot , you may flux pomegranates and blueberries in a fun and refreshful blueberry Punica granatum chia fresca . Find the formula for this tasty blendon Foodal as well .
Since the fruits are harvested in the main in the fall , they make a perfect gain to the cranberry sauce that you might function with seasonal holiday repast – or anytime!Get the formula from Foodal here .
Whether sweet or savory , the fruit and the dried spice gunpowder can be used in a variety of stunner , wherever you ’re look to sum up a lick of unfermented - working girl savour . The arils also make a tasty garnish on salads , Sir Tim Rice , and fowl knockout .
Young , ship’s boat leaves are good for smart feeding in salads and sweet talker . falsify , some growers like to use pomegranate leaves as an alternative to spinach .
old , glistening leaf are more fibrous and these should always be cooked before eating .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Plant a Bit of History for Delicious, Nutritious Fall Fruits!
When a fruit has survived the ages , being cultivated unceasingly from one generation to the next , you may count it ’s because of more than just smell .
And indeed , in addition to its ornamental beauty and the power to use it as a hedging or a tree in the garden , the pomegranate offers so many uses via its yield , leafage , and flowers that you ’ll have lots to explore .
And for more info ongrowing fruit treesin your garden , have a read of these template next :
Photos by Fanny Slater and Nikki Cervone © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally publish October 9th , 2021 . Last update August 23rd , 2023 . Product photograph via Excalibur , Nature Hills Nursery , and Yarden . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock . With extra penning and redaction by Clare Groom and Allison Sidhu .
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Kelly Spicer
